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Scholarly Journal of Agricultural Science Vol. 2(7), pp. 133-136, July 2012
Available online at http:// www.scholarly-journals.com/SJAS
ISSN 2276-7118 ©2012 Scholarly-Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Distribution of White tip nematode (Aphelenchoides
besseyi) in the west part of Mazandaran
S.E.Mahdavian and S. Javadi
Natural Resources and Agricultural Research center of Mazandaran, Iran P.O.Box 138.
Accepted 16 June, 2012
General studies conducted to determine the geographical distribution of the white tip nematode of rice
leaf in the west part of Mazandaran Province. A hundred seed samples of the Ramsar, Tonekabon and
Chaloos was sampling to identify the regions where infested with white tip nematode. The infested
samples percent of different regions are: 81/7% Ramsar, 92/3 % Tonekabon, 100% Chaloos and the total
average of the sampled regions infestation was about 91/3 % of 100 samples.
Key words: Rice, Dispersal, White tip nematode, Aphelenchoides besseyi
INTRODUCTION
White tip nematode (Aphelenchoides besseyi, 1942) was
found by Kakuta in Japan and he called it black grain
disease. The nematode which cause to white tip of rice
leaves was known more than 70 years in the world and
its distribution has been reported from Japan, America ,
Australia, Italy, Egypt, Turkey, India and a number of
other countries Bridge et al. (2005). Typical symptoms
made by A. besseyi contain white tip of the leaves which
gradually change color and become brown. Also the flag
leaf deformity is the other symptoms of infestation to this
nematode. Infected plants are short, weak and clusters
are sometimes hollow or have small and deformed
seeds, Bridge et al. (2005). In Iran, this nematode
reported first from Khomam and Lahijan regions by kheiri
(1972) then it reported about the other rice field of
Mazandaran and Gilan by other researchers (Talachian
and Akhiani, (1976) Tanha Maafi and Mahdavian, (1993)
Elahinia and Mahdavian, (1998) Pedramfar et al. (2001).
In recent years Jamali et al. (2006) performed general
studies on this nematode in north rice field of the country.
Studies which investigated by Jamali and et al. (2006)
about A. besseyi distribution in Iran , collected samples of
Mazandaran, Golestan and Gillan respectively had the
highest infestation and 61% of rice samples which
collected from the north of the country were infested to A.
besseyi. Recently, 14 local and improved varieties of rice
is evaluated toward A. besseyi nematode in greenhouse
situation which some of them such as Binam, Domsiyah,
Corresponding Author E-mail:ali2003_in@yahoo.com
Khazar, Hasansaraee showed high resistance to white tip
nematode of the rice leaf , whereas some veraieties such
as Nemat, Neda and Tarom had high sensitivity to it
Jamali and Mousanejad (2011). According to this
nematode importance, the aim of this study was to
determine the distribution condition in the Western parts
of Mazandaran Province.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Sampling, extraction and counting
During the years 2009-2010, 100 rice seed samples in
different regions of Ramsar, Tonekabon and Chalous
were collected and examined. For this purpose a set of
10 gram seed samples from each location was extracted
by Coolen and D-Herds' method Coolen and D-Herd
(1972). The extracted nematodes were counted and their
identity confirmed microscopically. Based on the
presence of nematodes, seed samples were indexed at
different levels of infestation.
RESULT
The study of collected samples showed that the western
part of the Mazandaran such as Ramsar, Tonekabon and
Chaloos were infested to white tip nematode. The
maximum population degree of the above regions was
2600, 1400, 2300 in 10 gr seed after harvest,
respectively. Studies showed that this nematode is there

Scholarly J. Agric. Sci. 134
Figure1: The symptomes of white tip nematode (Aphelenchoides besseyi)
Figure 2: Rice cluster with hard infestation to white tip nematode (Aphelenchoides besseyi )
in rice field of the western part of the Mazandaran but
about 8/7% samples didn’t show the infestation. Figure 3
shows the infested samples number which harvested
from west regions of the Mazandaran. As infers from this
Figure, infested samples percent of the western regions
of the Mazandaran to A. besseyi nematode are: 81/7%
Ramsar, 92/3% Tonekaboon and 100% chaloos and
infestation general average of the sampling regions is
91/3% of 100 seed samples.
Disease Symptoms
Nematode symptoms in rice leaves are in form of the tip
of the leaves become white and to turn about 3-5 cm,
finally it will become brown and break (figure1). Delay in
appear of cluster, decrease of seeds and plant growth,

Mahdavian and Javadi 135
120
100
80
Ramsar
60
40
20
0
Number of sample
Number of sample
infection
Percentage of
infection
Tonekabon
Chalos
Figure 3. Percent contamination of rice seed samples in different regien of West parts of Mazandaran
late crops and produce tiller from upper nodes are the
symptoms of the nematode (figure 2).
Disease Factor
Aphelenchoides besseyi nematode is a factor of white tip
of the rice leaf. This nematode belongs to
Aphelenchoididae family.
DISCUSSION
Be extended of A. besseyi distribution regions in rice
fields of the west Mazandaran are due to infested rice
seeds. White tip nematode was seed-borne and it
outspreads by infested seed Ou (1972). High degrees of
infested seeds in thesaurus bed facilities the extent of the
regional infestation Luc and Sikora (1990).
Infestation from soil occurs seldom. Just 5 plants of
2900 plants which produced from healthy seed grow in
infested soil showed disease symptoms, Huang (1959).
Infestation percent will increase when healthy and
unhealthy seeds grow beside each other in a same field.
Irrigation water which use in thesaurus bed contains
nematode and ill membranes, also it cause to facilitate
healthy seeds infestation. All achieved experiments in
Japan show that nematode transfer in field result from
germinated seeds or transplanted seedling Yoshii and
Yamamoto (1950).
According to study the source of the A. besseyi
economic damage threshold including association density
determine in specific number of seed or seed weight.
Fukano (1962) determined the economic damage
threshold of this nematode was 300 fresh nematodes into
100 seeds, although various researchers mentioned
differently, 100 nematodes in 100 seeds or 2-400
nematodes in 100 seeds. Quality number in 1gr seed
(paddy rice) is intermediately 40-45. According to present
study, 20 regions showed the infestation higher than 500
nematodes in 10 gr seed (intermediately, 1/7 nematodes
in each seed). So rice crop damage can be expected by
this infestation amount in above regions. As pointed
before, nematode association in 10 gr seed was more
than 1000 nematodes in 5 regions that is there’s
intermediately 3/6 nematodes in each seeds which
according to economic damage threshold gave by
Fukano (1962) can be injurious. In this study, extracted
nematode association of seeds evaluated less than 100
nematodes in each 10 gr seed in 21 of 100 regions
because probably this amount of nematode association
didn’t have crop damage for farmers. Although some
researchers mentioned 2-400 nematodes in 100 seeds in
economic damage threshold. On the other hand, all
patient plants don’t show the symptoms. Infected plants
may have no symptoms and even decrease can be see
when seeds contain nematode, the characteristic
symptoms of the disease don’t occur. During a study in
Japan, about 75% Infected plants didn’t show symptoms
Yoshii and Yamamoto, (1950). If also pollution amount
was 0.7 %, the economic value of polluted seed will
confront with decrease Inagaki (1985). Study results
show that more resistant plants indicate seldom
symptoms in clusters and leaf, whereas they contained
nematode and also their crops decrease Atkins and
Todd, (1959). More than 50% rice field which infested to
this nematode was reported in Bangladesh. Clusters
weight that were more infested (650 nematodes in 100
seeds) have been a third as compared with plants which
had less infection (112 nematodes in 100 seeds)
Rahman and Taylor, (1983). Nematode association
tolerance estimated 30 live nematodes in 100seeds. This
number cause to 50% damage to crop Fukano (1962).

Scholarly J. Agric. Sci. 136
A.besseyi economic damage threshold mentioned 300
live nematodes in 100 seeds and also crop damage has
been reported up to 60% by A. besseyi from different
infected regions of the world Bridge et al. (2005). As
regard to this disease is simply controllable through seed
treatment and by use resist types, such high damage is
rare. Whereas no seed treatment against A. besseyi
factor achieve and also resist types didn’t grow in Iran,
less damage up to relatively high damage can expected
based on study result by effect of nematode.
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